Film reel and reel extension

ABSTRACT

An annular disc has an annular depression extending from its inside circumference to a shoulder. The shoulder extends in a circle around the inside surface of the disc. The disc can be attached to a reel sidewall by means of the annular depression and the shoulder engaging the circumference of the reel sidewall. The disc has a plurality of arcuate slots forming concentric breakaway circles. It also has a loading slot extending through it from its inner to its outer circumference. By being constructed integrally with a core, the annular disc can also be a sidewall of a reel.

United States Patent [72] Inventor George H. Mapes 506 Beacon Blvd., Grand Haven, Mich. 49417 [211 App]. No. 889,127 [22] Filed Dec. 30, 1969 [45] Patented June 29, 1971 [54] FILM REEL AND REEL EXTENSION 16 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52 U.S. Cl 242/7L8, 242/1 18.4 [51] Int. Cl B65h 75/18 [50] Field of Search 242/71.8, 71.9, 118.4, 1 18.6, 1 18.61; 206/52 F, 59 E [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,476,928 7/1949 Thomas 242/71.8

Primary Examiner- Leonard D. Christian At!0rney-Price, I-Ieneveld, Huizenga & Cooper ABSTRACT: An annular disc has an annular depression extending from its inside circumference to a shoulder. The shoulder extends in a circle around the inside surface of the disc. The disc can be attached to a reel sidewall by means of the annular depression and the shoulder engaging the circumference of the reel sidewall. The disc has a plurality of arcuate slots forming concentric breakaway circles. It also has a loading slot extending through it from its inner to its outer circumference. By being constructed integrally with a core, the annular disc can also be a sidewall ofa reel.

FILM REEL AND REEL EXTENSION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to reels and to sidewall extensions for reels. In its narrower aspects, it relates to film reels.

Perhaps the most popular film used by home movie buffs is 8 millimeter or Super 8 film. When 8 millimeter or Super 8 film is developed, it is sent back on small 50 foot reels. If one desires to splice footage together, he must purchase either a 200 foot reel or a 400 foot reel. Unless onesplices together exactly 200 feet or 400 feet of film, he does not have enough film to fill his reel. In fact, this is usually the case.

Thus, when one splices footage, he not only has to buy a new reel, but he also ends up buying a reel which is too large for his purposes. This unnecessarily complicates loading, winding, unwinding and storage. Those portions of the sidewalls of the reel which are unnecessary merely tend to interfere with and foul winding and unwinding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a sidewall extension for attaching to the sidewall of a reel. A circular, annular disc having a generally flat inside surface and an outside surface is provided with attachment means whereby it can be attached to a reel. It also has a plurality of breakaway circles of varying diameters, all being generally concentric with the outer circumference of the annular disc.

Thus, this invention eliminates the necessity of purchasing an additional reel when one desires to splice footage together. In addition, this invention provides a sidewall or sidewall extension which can be broken away at one of a number of different circumferences. In this way, the size of the sidewalls on the reel can be made to correspond to the length of film which is to be stored on the reel.

Thus, one has a reel which has no unnecessary sidewall por tions. It is compact for purposes of storing. Furthermore, winding and unwinding are facilitated since there is no interference from unnecessary sidewall portions.

The unique breakaway circle construction of this invention leaves no sharp edges on the outer circumference when a portion of the sidewall or sidewall extension is broken away. In addition, this unique construction can be easily manufactured.

The invention further provides for a loading slot in the sidewall extension which not only mates the loading slot on a reel and thereby facilitates loading, but also facilitates attachment of the sidewall extensions to the existing reel sidewall.

Finally, the invention also provides many features which can be utilized in an integral reel, i.e. the entire sidewall being integrally secured to a core.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention can be seen by reference to the specification and appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the sidewall extension;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sidewall extension taken on the plane II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the shoulder taken on plane III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a slot taken on plane IMYSf FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a wall portion between adjacent slots taken along plane Wf FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an alternative shoulder configuration and corresponds to the view shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a sidewall extension secured to a reel; and

FIG. v8 is a cross-sectional view of the junction between a reel sidewall and a reel extension taken on plane VIII-VIII of FIG. 7.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more specifically to FIG. ll, it can be seen that sidewall extension 10 includes a plurality of arcuate slots 15 and a loading slot 21. In addition, there is an attachment means, i.e. annular depression 19 and shoulder 20, for securing sidewall extension 10 to a reel 30 as is shown in FIG. 7.

Sidewall extension 10 comprises an annular disc having a flat inside surface 111, a flat outside surface 12, and an inner circumference 13 and an outer circumference 12 (FIGS. I and 2). Preferably, this annular disc is made of plastic by means ofinjection molding or the like.

The inside surface I1 is generally flat so that it does not interfere with the winding or unwinding of film onto a reel. It is interrupted by a plurality of arcuate slots 15 which form a plu rality of concentric breakaway circles (FIG. I). These circles are called breakaway circles since a portion of the sidewall extension can be broken away at any one ofthese circles leaving sidewall extension 10 with a new outer circumference. While these breakaway circles could be comprised of perforations, shallow grooves or the like, the arcuate slots 15 are preferred for their case of manufacture, for the ease with which the sidewall can be broken away at a given circle of slots 15, and because they are readily manufactured to leave a tapered edge as will be subsequently described (FIG. 4

The breakaway circles formed by slots 15 are concentric with the inner circumference l3 and outer circumference 14 of the sidewall extension 10. The adjacent arcuate slots 15 forming a particular breakaway circle are spaced from each other by a wall portion 16 (FIGS. 1 and 5). Each slot 15 has an inner edge 17 and an outer edge 18 (FIG. 4). The inner edge 17 tapers gradually upwardly from the flat inside surface 11 of annular disc 10 and toward the outside surface 12 of annular disc 10. This taper is comparable to the taper which is found generally on film reels and prevents film from being torn or scratched by the sharp exposed edges of the reel. Outside edge 18 is also preferably so tapered, since it prevents the rare tearing which might occur were this outside edge to protrude slightly. However, this is not absolutely necessary since edge 18 is part of the portion of the sidewall extension 10 which will be broken away, and the type of tearing described in the previous sentence will be considerably less frequent than the tearing which will result from an exposed outer edge.

Each wall portion 16 which separates adjacent arcuate slots in a given breakaway circle comprises an interruption or shallow groove in the generally flat surface 11 of the sidewall extension 10 (FIG. 5). Each wall portion 16 also has an inner edge 22 and an outer edge 23 which are generally a continuum of edges I7 and 18. As with inner edge 17 of slot 15, each inner edge 22 is preferably tapered upwardly from the flat inside surface 11 of annular disc 10. Thus when a portion of the annular disc or sidewall extension 10 is broken away, the outer circumferential edge is uniformly tapered all the way around, rather than only in the area where the arcuate slot used to be. Also similarly to the outer edge 18 of a slot 15, the outer edge 23 of a wall portion 16 is preferably tapered in a similar fashion. However, this is not absolutely necessary since outer edge 23 will be a part of that portion of annular disc 10 which is broken away.

The attachment means for extension ll) comprises an annular depression 19 in the generally flat surface 11 of sidewall extension 10 (FIGS. 1,2, 3 and 6). This annular depression 19 is comparable in depth to the thickness of the sidewall which extension 10 is to extend. It extends from the inside circumference of sidewall extension I0 radially outwardly to a shoulder 20. Shoulder 20 defines a circle which is concentric with the breakaway circles and with the inside and outside circumferences I3 and I4 ofsidewall extension 10 (FIG. 1). The diameter of the circle defined by shoulder 20 is comparable to the diameter of the sidewall of the reel to which the extension 10 is to be attached.

Shoulder 20 extends between the surface of annular depression 19 and the generally flat inside surface 11 (fig. 3). Preferably, shoulder 20 slants downwardly from the surface of depression 19 at an angle which is acute with respect to the surface of depression 19 and which is also acute with respect to the generally flat inside surface 11. While this slant is preferable in that it facilitates attachment of annular disc to reel 30 (FIG. 8), one can also use other structures such as the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6. Here the shoulder 40 corresponds to shoulder 20 of FIG. 3. It is generally perpendicular both to the surface of annular depression 19 and to the generally flat inside surface 11.

Sidewall extension 10 also has a loading slot 21 cut through it. This slot extends from the inner circumference 13 to the outer circumference 14 of disc 10. Slot 21 corresponds to the loading slots which are found in standard film reels.

OPERATION in FlG. 7, sidewall extension 10 is snapped onto a reel 30 in order to extend the sidewalls 33 of reel 30. Reel 30 also has a core 31 which includes a mounting means 32. As can be seen by reference to FIG. 8, the tapered shoulder 20 of extension 10 is snapped over the tapered edge of reel sidewall 33. Sidewall 33 then rests against the surface of depression 19. Because depression 19 is approximately as deep as sidewall 33 is thick, the inside surface of sidewall 33 and inside surface 1] form a generally continuous and smooth plane.

Loading slot 21 is lined up with a loading slot 34 in the sidewall 33 of reel 30. Thus, the use of sidewall extension 10 does not inhibit the ease with which reel 30 can be loaded. In addition, loading slot 21 in extension 10 actually facilitates the ease with which the latter is snapped onto reel 30. Slot 2] allows extension 10 to spring apart slightly such that shoulder 20 slips more easily over the outer circumferential edge of sidewall 33.

In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6, shoulder 40 does not snap over the edge of sidewall 33. Rather, the surface of depression 19 is coated with an adhesive or the like. Sidewall 33 of reel 30 is then merely pressed into place within annular depression 19. Reel 30 is held in place by the action of the adhesive. Preferably, this adhesive is applied to the surface of depression 19 when annular disc 10 is manufactured, and it is covered with paper or the like which can be peeled offwhen disc 10 is to be used.

Once in place, sidewall extension 10 can be broken away at any desired circumference, depending on the footage of film which is to be wound on the reel. Preferably, each breakaway line is labeled according to the footage which it will accommodate. When a portion ofthe wall is broken away, the new outside circumference of sidewall extension 10 will still be completely tapered since the inside edges 17 and 22 of arcuate slots and interrupting wall portions 16 are completely tapered. Furthermore, the reel is still symmetrical since each breakaway circle is concentric with the old edge of reel 30, and with the core 31 of reel 30.

It should be noted that sidewall extension 10 could be an integral part of a reel, if it were molded integrally with a core. Hence, many of the desirable features of the invention can be realized through embodiment in a reel structure per se, rather than in a reel sidewall extension.

Thus, it can be seen that a number of difficulties encountered in the prior art have been obviated and a number of desirable objectives have been achieved by this invention. The necessity of purchasing new reels when splicing footage together has been eliminated. Furthermore, the problem of oversized reels has been eliminated since this invention provides sidewall extensions or sidewalls which can be broken away at any of a number of circumferences. Further, this break can be achieved without leaving a sharp edge which might tear or otherwise mutilate film being wound onto or unwound from the reel.

Furthermore, a sidewall extension is provided which includes a loading slot to facilitate loading of the reel. In addition, this loading slot facilitates the attachment of the sidewall extension to the existing reel. Furthermore, this invention provides breakaway means which are not only efficient and effective, but which are also relatively easy to manufacture.

Finally, this invention provides a unique means for attaching the sidewall extension to an existing reel. In particular, the slanting shoulder 20 insures that sidewall extension 10 will adhere securely to the sidewalls 33 of reel 30 without the use of adhesives and the like.

lt is understood that the above is merely a preferred embodiment of this invention and that a number of changes and alterations thereof can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which I claim an exclusive property or privilege are defined as follows:.

1. For attachment to the sidewall ofa reel, a sidewall extension comprising: a circular, annular disc having a generally flat inside surface and an outside surface; said disc having a plurality of breakaway circles of varying diameters, all of said circles being generally concentric with the outer circumference of said circles being generally concentric with the outer circumference of said disc; said disc having attachment means whereby it can be attached to the sidewall ofa reel.

2. The device of claim 1 which also comprises: each of said breakaway circles comprising an interruption in said flat inside surface of said disc; said interruption having an inner edge and an outer edge with respect to the geometric center of said disc; said inner edge tapering gradually upwardly from said flat inside surface and towards said outside surface.

3. The device of claim 2 which also comprises: a loading slot extending through said disc from its inner circumference to its outer circumference.

4. The device of claim 2 which also comprises: said interruption comprising a plurality of arcuate slots in said disc, adjacent slots being separated by a solid wall portion.

5. The device of claim 1 in which said attachment means comprises: an annular depression in said generally flat inside surface extending from the inner circumference of said disc to a shoulder; said shoulder joining the surface of said annular depression with said generally flat inside surface; said shoulder defining a circle which is generally concentric with said outer circumference of said disc, and having a diameter comparable to the diameter of the reel to which said sidewall extension is to be attached.

6. The device of claim 2 in which said attachment means comprises: an annular depression in said generally flat inside surface extending from the inner circumference of said disc to a shoulder; said shoulder joining the surface of said annular depression with said generally flat inside surface; said shoulder defining a circle which is generally concentric with said outer circumference of said disc, and having a diameter comparable to the diameter of the reel to which said sidewall extension is to be attached.

7. The device of claim 4.in which said attachment means comprises: an annular depression in said generally flat inside surface extending from the inner circumference of said disc to a shoulder; said shoulder joining the surface of said annular depression with said generally flat inside surface; said shoulder defining a circle which is generally concentric with said outer circumference of said disc, and having a diameter comparable to the diameter of the reel to which said sidewall extension is to be attached.

8. The device of claim 5 in which said attachment means also comprises: said shoulder slanting inwardly from said annular depression at an acute angle to the surface of said depression and at an acute angle to said inside surface of said disc.

9. The device of claim 6 in which said attachment means also comprises: said shoulder slanting inwardly from said annular depression at an acute angle to the surface of said depression and at an acute angle to said inside surface of said disc.

10. The device of claim 3 in which said attachment means comprises: an annular depression in said generally flat inside surface extending from the inner circumference of said disc to a shoulder; said shoulder joining the surface of said annular depression with said generally flat inside surface; said shoulder defining a circle, generally concentric with said outer circumference of said disc, and having a diameter comparable to the diameter of the reel to which said sidewall extension is to be attached; said shoulder slanting inwardly from said annular depression at an acute angle to the surface of said depression and at an acute angle to said inside surface of said disc.

11. For attachment to the sidewall of a reel, a sidewall extension comprising: a circular, annular disc having a generally flat inside surface, an annular depression in said generally flat inside surface extending from the inner circumference of said disc to a shoulder; said shoulder joining the surface of said annular depression with said generally flat inside surface; said shoulder defining a circle generally concentric with the outer circumference of said disc, and having a diameter comparable to the diameter of the reel to which said sidewall extension is to be attached.

12. The device of claim 11 in which said shoulder slants inwardly from said annular depression at an acute angle to the surface of said depression and at an acute angle to said inside surface ofsaid disc.

13. The device of claim 12 which also comprises: a loading slot extending through said disc from its inner circumference to its outer circumference.

14. A reel comprising: a core; sidewalls, each having a generally flat inside surface and an outside surface; each of said sidewalls having a plurality of breakaway circles being generally concentric with the circumference of said core.

15. The device of claim 14 which also comprises: each of said breakaway circles comprising an interruption in said flat inside surface of said sidewall; said interruption having an inner edge and an outer edge with respect to said core; said inner edge tapering gradually upwardly from said flat inside surface and towards said outside surface of said reel sidewall.

16. The device of claim 15 which also comprises: said interruption comprising a plurality of arcuate slots in said sidewall, adjacent slots being separated by a solid wall portion. 

1. For attachment to the sidewall of a reel, a sidewall extension comprising: a circular, annular disc having a generally flat inside surface and an outside surface; said disc having a plurality of breakaway circles of varying diameters, all of said circles being generally concentric with the outer circumference of said circles being generally concentric with the outer circumference of said disc; said disc having attachment means whereby it can be attached to the sidewall of a reel.
 2. The device of claim 1 which also comprises: each of said breakaway circles comprising an interruption in said flat inside surface of said disc; said interruption having an inner edge and an outer edge with respect to the geometric center of said disc; said inner edge tapering gradually upwardly from said flat inside surface and towards said outside surface.
 3. The device of claim 2 which also comprises: a loading slot extending through said disc from its inner circumference to its outer circumference.
 4. The device of claim 2 which also comprises: said interruption comprising a plurality of arcuate slots in said disc, adjacent slots being separated by a solid wall portion.
 5. The device of claim 1 in which said attachment means comprises: an annular depression in said generally flat inside surface extending from the inner circumference of said disc to a shoulder; said shoulder joining the surface of said annular depression with said generally flat inside surface; said shoulder defining a circle which is generally concentric with said outer circumference of said disc, and having a diameter comparable to the diameter of the reel to which said sidewall extension is to be attached.
 6. The device of claim 2 in which said attachment means comprises: an annular depression in said generally flat inside surface extending from the inner circumference of said disc to a shoulder; said shoulder joining the surface of said annular depression with said generally flat inside sUrface; said shoulder defining a circle which is generally concentric with said outer circumference of said disc, and having a diameter comparable to the diameter of the reel to which said sidewall extension is to be attached.
 7. The device of claim 4 in which said attachment means comprises: an annular depression in said generally flat inside surface extending from the inner circumference of said disc to a shoulder; said shoulder joining the surface of said annular depression with said generally flat inside surface; said shoulder defining a circle which is generally concentric with said outer circumference of said disc, and having a diameter comparable to the diameter of the reel to which said sidewall extension is to be attached.
 8. The device of claim 5 in which said attachment means also comprises: said shoulder slanting inwardly from said annular depression at an acute angle to the surface of said depression and at an acute angle to said inside surface of said disc.
 9. The device of claim 6 in which said attachment means also comprises: said shoulder slanting inwardly from said annular depression at an acute angle to the surface of said depression and at an acute angle to said inside surface of said disc.
 10. The device of claim 3 in which said attachment means comprises: an annular depression in said generally flat inside surface extending from the inner circumference of said disc to a shoulder; said shoulder joining the surface of said annular depression with said generally flat inside surface; said shoulder defining a circle, generally concentric with said outer circumference of said disc, and having a diameter comparable to the diameter of the reel to which said sidewall extension is to be attached; said shoulder slanting inwardly from said annular depression at an acute angle to the surface of said depression and at an acute angle to said inside surface of said disc.
 11. For attachment to the sidewall of a reel, a sidewall extension comprising: a circular, annular disc having a generally flat inside surface, an annular depression in said generally flat inside surface extending from the inner circumference of said disc to a shoulder; said shoulder joining the surface of said annular depression with said generally flat inside surface; said shoulder defining a circle generally concentric with the outer circumference of said disc, and having a diameter comparable to the diameter of the reel to which said sidewall extension is to be attached.
 12. The device of claim 11 in which said shoulder slants inwardly from said annular depression at an acute angle to the surface of said depression and at an acute angle to said inside surface of said disc.
 13. The device of claim 12 which also comprises: a loading slot extending through said disc from its inner circumference to its outer circumference.
 14. A reel comprising: a core; sidewalls, each having a generally flat inside surface and an outside surface; each of said sidewalls having a plurality of breakaway circles being generally concentric with the circumference of said core.
 15. The device of claim 14 which also comprises: each of said breakaway circles comprising an interruption in said flat inside surface of said sidewall; said interruption having an inner edge and an outer edge with respect to said core; said inner edge tapering gradually upwardly from said flat inside surface and towards said outside surface of said reel sidewall.
 16. The device of claim 15 which also comprises: said interruption comprising a plurality of arcuate slots in said sidewall, adjacent slots being separated by a solid wall portion. 